I took the same vehicle that Lars has been using—the big black SUV with the tinted windows. Before I left, I looked up at the cameras and wondered if Lars was watching me. Then I remembered that I’m probably scum on the bottom of his shoe and shook that thought away quickly. It was all for the baby. As much I wanted to believe that he reciprocated my feelings, he didn’t. Everything I felt was built on a lie. One thing I did learn is that he’s going to be a good daddy one day and the mom to his child is going to feel so much love and protection from him. I felt protected. I felt adored and important.
Brushing away a tear, I say goodbye to this messy chapter of my life. The next one is going to be bumpy, but it’s necessary to get to the end.
The SUV rocks as I creep slowly down the beaten path to the power lines. Panic ensues when the possibility of someone else accompanying Madison becomes a reality. No one knows I’m in town still and if anyone else finds out, Rick could find out. He could claim I’m emotionally unstable. Have me committed—or worse.
Headlines shine in front of me and I’m relieved when I see only Madison leaning against the door of a vehicle that matches the one I’m driving. That’s not her car, but it’s possible that she didn’t want to risk driving it down this trail.
My anxiety hits an all-time high and I have to calm myself down before I get out. Feeling like I’m on the verge of a full-blown ugly cry, I pull myself together. I have to because there is so much at stake.
Take a deep breath, hold your head high, and do this.
Stepping outside feels like stepping into quicksand. A restless gnaw at my chest has alarms going off in my head.
“You made it. Nice ride.” Madison shuffles to my side with a smile on her face. I hate that she’s always so happy. I hate that she has reasons to be happy. Envy is a deadly sin, but with many other sins, it’s crept into my soul and made a home there. Three months of pure hell will cause any sinner to beg for company. Is it so wrong to want what she has?
“It’s not mine. It’s…” I shake my head and stop saying too much. “You said we could help each other?” My legs quiver and that invisible quicksand begins sucking me in as I feel about two-feet tall in her presence.
“Come on.” She nods toward the vehicle she came in. “It’s cold out here and we have a lot to talk about.”
I follow behind her like a puppy on a leash.
Once we’re both in the SUV, I shift my body to face her. I have to be bold or I’ll leave here with nothing. “I’m sure you saw the news. Just so you know, it’s not true.” I don’t dare tell Madison the entire truth. If Lars decides to share that information, so be it, but the truth will never escape my mouth again. “I have no idea why Vi would—”
Madison holds up a hand stopping me. “Is it Lars’ baby?”
I nod. “It is.”
Her hands slap to the steering wheel and she squeezes it so tight that it looks like her knuckles are on the verge of breaking through her skin. Pressing her lips together, her head trembles. “Ok.” She takes in a few heavy breaths. “Ok. This is fine. This is fine.” Eyes lock on mine and chills shiver down my spine when I read the seriousness in her expression. “Willa. You don’t want him and I’m not saying this to be mean, but he doesn’t want you either. You see, Lars made me believe that he loved me, too.”
“Of course he loves you.” I chuckle. “You’re his sister.”
“No, sweetie. I’m his dad’s stepdaughter. Lars played me the same way he’s been playing you. I fell under his spell and fell in love with him. The sex was great, don’t get me wrong, but then his friends started to interfere, without even realizing they were doing it. Josh went missing and everything changed.”
Sex? Love? Madison and Lars, no way.
Looking at her with puzzlement, I’m not sure what she’s even talking about. “What does Josh have to do with any of this?”
“Oh. You don’t know? Yeah, Lars and his friends killed Josh.”
Drawing back, I laugh. “Yeah, right.”
Her head bobs up and down and she smirks cruelly. “Yes. They did. Lars swears they didn’t, but I saw them loading Josh’s body into a car in front of Marni Thorn’s house. My guess is that they hit him on purpose and hid his body.”
“This is ridiculous. Sure, they’re all jerks, but they aren’t killers.”
“Josh was obsessed with Marni. Talon is obsessed with Marni.”
I’m not sure if I believe what she’s saying to me, but why would she make this up? If this is true, then I have my ammo. I have exactly what I need to get Lars to give me the money so I can leave.
“Prove it.” I spit out. “If they killed Josh, show me proof.”
“All the proof I need is up here.” She taps a finger to the top of her head. “Lars knows what I saw. Even admitted to getting rid of the body. They pushed Josh’s car into Lake Ruin, destroying evidence. Zed’s the mastermind behind it all and I think he views you as a threat. I assumed you knew, but I guess he wants something else. He’s going to help me make Lars fall in love with me. But that’s not possible if you’re in the picture.”
“It was you, wasn't’ it? You’re the one who left the message on my phone and came to my house?”
She seems to be taken aback. “I don’t know what you’re talking
